Statius
Publius Papinius Statius (c. 45, in Naples – c. 96 AD, in Naples) was a Roman poet of the 1st century AD (Silver Age of Latin literature). His surviving Latin poetry includes an epic in twelve books, the Thebaid; a collection of occasional poetry, the Silvae; and an unfinished epic, the Achilleid. He is also known for his appearance as a guide in the Purgatory section of Dante's epic poem The Divine Comedy.
Life
Family background
Information about Statius' life is almost entirely drawn from his Silvae and a mention by the satirist Juvenal. He was born to a family of Graeco-Campanian origin; his Roman cognomen suggests that at some time an ancestor of his was freed and adopted the name of his former master, although neither Statius nor his father were slaves. The poet's father (whose name is unknown) was a native of Velia but later moved to Naples and spent time in Rome where he taught with marked success. From boyhood to adulthood, Statius' father proved himself a champion in the poetic contests at Naples in the Augustalia and in the Nemean, Pythian, and Isthmian games, which served as important events to display poetic skill during the early empire. Statius declares in his lament for his father (Silv. 5.3) that his father was in his time equal to any literary task, whether in prose or verse. He mentioned Mevania, and may have spent time there, or been impressed by the confrontation of Vitellius and Vespasian in 69. Statius' father was a Roman eques, but may have lost his status because of money troubles. At Naples, he was a teacher of Greek and Roman literature who attracted many pupils who were destined for religious offices in Rome. He died in 79 AD.
Statius (praenomen)
Statius is a Latin praenomen, or personal name, which was used during the period of the Roman Republic, and into imperial times. It was not widely used at Rome, but gave rise to the patronymic gens Statilia. The feminine form is Statia. It is not usually abbreviated, but is sometimes found with the abbreviations St. and Sta.
Origin and meaning of the name
Although it was occasionally used by families of Latin origin, the praenomen Statius occurs much more frequently in Oscan gentes, and particularly amongst the Samnites. Chase concludes that the name is clearly of Oscan origin, although it may be that it belongs to that class of names which was common to both Oscan and Latin.
Aulus Gellius recorded the tradition that Statius was a name originally given to persons of servile origin. This belief probably arose because many of the people who bore this name at Rome arrived as captives taken during wars between Rome and various Oscan peoples. However, this belief also must have helped to prevent Statius from becoming a popular name at Rome. It is ironic that this tradition was recorded by Gellius, whose nomen reveals his own family's Oscan origin.
Statius (disambiguation)
Statius is a Latin or Italic personal name, or praenomen, which gave rise to a patronymic surname. Prominent individuals with this name include:
Statius may also refer to:
See also
Statius
ALBUMS
- Arcane Fables released: 2009
Perfect Day
Have you ever felt like this
Like every time you swing, you miss?
If good things come to those who wait,
But a dollar short and a day too late
So I'll pack up my heart and run,
Cause I'm afraid of what we'll become,
And I feel I need some time from everyone.
You're like the perfect day in May,
But I watched you walk away,
And I didn't catch your name.
But if you pass back through the door,
I'll be the one you've waited for,
The one you will adore.
So what do I have to lose?
Say "hello" and make my move.
We'll leave town and drive all night,
If we're together everything's alright.
Well I'll pack up my heart and run,
Cause I'm afraid of what we'll become,
And I feel I need some time from everyone.
You're like the perfect day in May,
But I watched you walk away,
And I didn't catch your name.
But if you pass back through the door,
I'll be the one you've waited for,
The one you will adore.
Maybe this is good-bye.
Baby please don't cry.
It'll be alright.
Well if I had the courage to say hello,
We'd be on our way I know,
But I'm on my way alone (on my way, on my way alone!)
You're like the perfect day in May,
But I watched you walk away,
And I didn't catch your name (You walked away).
But if you pass back through the door,
I'll be the one you've waited for,
The one you will adore.